2 video card support

[MikeC]

I have a programmer that wants to be able to extend (not
mirror) his desktop. His current configuration is an HP
Kayak workstation with an ATI Rage 128 Pro AGP video card
under Windows 2000 Pro. He would like to add a PCI video
card and be able to extend the desktop to a 2nd monitor.
My first response was that he needs a dual head video
card, but since this is something that I have never even
remotely thought about doing I wanted to find out if there
is a way to do it with Windows 2000. Will Windows 2000
handle both an AGP and a PCI video card at the same time,
doing what he wants?

Many thanks!

 

[Bob I]

F1, Multiple Monitors

 

[Matthew Mucker [MSFT]]

Yes, W2K can do this.

I have a Diamond Multimedia Fire GL 1000 Pro (AGP) card, an ATI 3D RAGE PRO
(PCI) card, a Matrox Mystique (PCI) card, and a Voodoo 3 (PCI) card in my
Windows 2000 machine and am running four monitors. It's wonderful! I can
even have different resolutions and refresh rates on each monitor.

Note that most S3 chipsets (at least older ones) won't work for geeky
technical reasons. Other than that, in my experience, multiple monitors on
Windows 2000 "just works."

-Matt

 

[Rick]

That's correct. Most S3-based cards insist on being masters and
won't work as secondary adapters. There have also been reports
of recent ATI Radeon cards not supporting secondary adapters.
Most other brands/models should work fine.

Rick

 

[NuT CrAcKeR]

I like the Matrox G cards for this. I have been using G400's for years, and
love them to death. I am looking at thier new P650 and P750 cards to replace
these older ones.

NuTs